Bed-making apparatus

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR THE MAKING OF BEDS INCLUDING AN ADJUSTABLE FRAME STRUCTURE FOR USE WITH BEDS OF WIDELY VARYING WIDTHS AND A TELESCOPING TUBULAR FRAME STRUCTURE FOR VARYING ITS DIMENSIONS AND ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED OR ROTATED FROM A VERTICAL TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION, EXTENDED FROM A RETRACTED TO AN EXTENDED HORIZONTAL POSITION WITH THE EXTENDED FRAME SECTIONS DISPOSED AT THE SIDES OF THE MATTRESS, THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENDED ENDS HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SLOTTED TUCKER RODS WHICH RECEIVE AND HOLD THE ENDS OF THE SHEETS OR BED COVERING AND WHEN THE EXTENDED FRAME IS RETRACTED FROM ITS EXTENDED POSITION TUCKS IN THE BED CLOTHING.

June 1, 1971 w. M. GEARY 3,581,321

BED-MAKING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1969 2: Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1, 1971 w. M. GEARY 3,581,321

BED-MAKING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1969 2 Sheets$heet z United States Patent Int. Cl. A47c 21/00 U.S. Cl. 317 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for the making of beds including an adjustable frame structure for use with beds of widely varying widths and a telescoping tubular frame structure for varying its dimensions and adapted to be pivoted or rotated from a vertical to a horizontal position, extended from a retracted to an extended horizontal position with the extended frame sections disposed at the sides of the mattress, the longitudinally extended ends having pivotally mounted slotted tucker rods which receive and hold the ends of the sheets or bed covering and when the extended frame is retracted from its extended position tucks in the bed clothing.

The present invention relates to a novel apparatus for mechanically making a bed by applying and tucking in the bed clothing over and covering the mattress.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel bed-making apparatus comprising manually-operated retractable and extensible assembly including a mobile telescoping box-like structure carrying a readily adjustable side frame structure movable from a retracted position to an operative extended horizontal position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel mobile bed-making unit having a telescoping frame assembly which is readily moved into and out of bed-making position, and in operative position the telescoping frame sections and end tucker rods are spaced from the head and sides of the mattress and when in this latter position tucking in the sheets or bedclothing for making the bed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel collapsible or telescoping frame structure so constructed and arranged as to receive the ends of the bed clothes including the sheets and other bed covering, and means for extending the frame structure laterally and longitudinally for retraction and extension thereof.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel carrier or bed-making unit in retracted inoperative position at the foot of the bed and showing the bed with the mattress uncovered but to be covered by the bed clothes when making the bed.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the bed and carrier unit with the latter moved into operative position at the foot of the bed and showing the inner forward section of the telescoping tubular side frame members partially extended above and alongside the bed.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the extended telescoping tubular side frame members lowered alongside the bed for tucking in the sheets or bed clothes alongside the mattress.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

3,581,321 Patented June 1, 1971 FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the telescoping frame sections in extended position and the tucker rods turned inwardly for receiving and retaining the corners of the bed clothing beyond the ends of the mattress.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the carrier unit as viewed from the left of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the carrier unit with the foot end of one of the telescoping tubular frame sections at one end of the carrier unit, shown in full lines when elevated and in dotted lines in lowered positioned when tucking the bed clothes.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the pivotally mounted upper slotted clasper or tucker rods for receiving a corner at one end of sheets and bed clothing when making the bed.

The present invention relates to a mobile carrier unit 10 comprising a box-like adjustable structure open at the rear including an extensible and retractable bottom or base 11, an extensible sectional front wall 12 and 12 and two side walls 13 and 14 affixed to the front sections, the bottom or base having casters 15 for mobility of the assembly so that it may be readily moved to operative position with its open end at the foot of the bed or removed therefrom to inoperative position. The walls 12 and 12 are constructed to telescope for adjusting the width of the fixture to accommodate beds of varying widths, and the telescoping side 16 and 16 arms are extensible and retractable for extending the sheets or bedclothes over the mattress when making the bed.

For effecting telescoping to accommodate beds from twin size (approximately 39 inch width), full size (approximately 56 inch width), queen size (approximately 60 inch width) and king size or two combined, adjoining twin size beds (approximately 76 inch width), and each bed having an overall length of approximately to inch length, each side wall 13 and 14 is provided with inwardly projecting and vertically spaced end slats 17 and 17 respectively, aflixed at the outer end to a side wall and the inner end of each is free for lateral sliding adjustment upon vertically spaced alternate center slats 18, the latter each attached adjacent its opposite ends to two generally upright, spaced braces 19 and 20, thus permitting the carrier unit to be readily varied in width.

At each side of the carrier unit are the telescoping scalene or triangular tubular sections or arms 16 and 16 of a length when fully extended to project beyond the full length of the bed, each smaller section 16 being conformably received and telescoping in the larger section 16 with the latter mounted adjacent the foot end of the bed, and when fully extended the extreme end 21 of the smaller section 16 projects approximately /2. to 1 inch beyond the head end of the mattress 22.

At the end 21 of each of the smaller telescoping section 16, is pivotally mounted at 23 a tucker rod 24 adapted to fold back upon the section 16 when not in use. When in use, these tucker rods are pivoted inwardly and slit longitudinally at 25 to receive and hold an end of a sheet 26 or bed clothes and extend the sheet over the head end of the mattress when the telescoping side frame sections are fully extended.

To retain and extend fitted sheets, the tucker rods need not be employed but the opopsite corners of the sheet are disposed over a button or projection at 23 on the free end of the sections 16 and are retained thereby until the telescoping frame sections or arms 16 and 16* are withdrawn.

To move the smaller telescoping sections 16 to their to the adjoining end of the smaller telescoping section 16 whereby the handle is adapted tomove these smaller sections to either an extended or retracted position in the larger tubular section 16.

The forward or foot end of each of the larger telescoping tubular sections 1-6 is pivotally mounted by a rod 30 projecting into and extending through the sections 16 and having an end projecting through at 3 1 for pivotal mounting in a movable plate or panel 29 within each side wall 13 and 14, whereby these sections 16, one at each side of the bed with the smaller section 16 therein, may be moved from an upright position (FIG. 1) to a horizontal position (FIG. 2). In this position, the tucker rods 24 at the top are pivoted and moved inwardly or transversely to receive the folded upper ends of the sheet 26 in the slots 25 (see FIG. 8).

The telescoped arm sections 16 and 16 are moved to a horizontal position above and spaced from each side of the mattress 22, and the lower tucker rods 24 pivoted on the foot end of the telescoping tubular sections 16, are pivoted inwardly and receive the lower folded end of the sheets. The telescoping tubular sections or arms 16 are extended. The ends of the sheet are then disengaged from the tucker rods 24 and the sheet disposed over the mattress. The triangular tubular frame extensions 16 and 16 are then moved inwardly to tuck in the sheet along the longitudinal edges of the mattress as shown in FIG. 4, after which the triangular frame extensions are moved outwardly and retracted.

In preparing the sheets for bed-making, each sheet is grasped and folded at one side overhang at the top corner by flipping upwardly and in toward the operator, and then repeating at the other top corner, thus making a double fold or crease, one on top of the other, and these folded ends are then slid into the clasper or tucker rods 24. This is repeated at each corner. This renders the sheet rather taut and enables these corners to be disengaged by contact with the mattress as the tubular sections 16 and 16 are lowered and the overhang of the disengaged sheet drops over the sides of the mattress when the members 16 and 16' are positioned for tucking. These tubular sections '16 and 16 are retained in horizontal position by a detent 32.

Having thus disclosed my invention, 1 claim:

1. Apparatus for making a bed by arranging and placing onto the mattress conventional bed clothes including conventional and contour sheets, comprising a telescoping frame assembly including a laterally extensible box-like mobile carrier having telescoping side extensions movable from a retracted position to a horizontally extended position, and tucker rods at the ends of said side extensions for receiving and locating the ends of the bed clothes.

2. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 1, in which said carrier is provided with means for extending and retracting the width of the carrier to accommodate beds of varying widths.

3. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 1, in which each tucker rod is pivotally mounted on the free end of said side extensions to receive the corners of the bed clothes for extending the bed clothes over the mattress.

4. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 2, in which said mobile carrier is telescopically arranged for changing its width in accordance with the width of the bed to be made, and a telescoping handle for longitudinally adjusting the side extensions.

5. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 4, in which said side extensions are of triangular tubular form, the inner, smaller extension being longitudinally adjustable by movement of said handle.

6. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 1, in which said carrier includes means for lateral adjustment.

7. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 2, in which the telescoping side extensions at the sides of the bed are adjustable longitudinally and movable horizontally over the mat-tress for positioning the sheets and bed clothes onto the mattress.

8. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 7, in which the side extensions comprise tubular telescoping parts, the outer telescoping parts being slotted and each receiving the end of a handle spanning the bed with the ends of the handle extending into said slots and engaging and moving with said handle the inner tubular part.

9. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 8, in which a slotted tucker rod is pivotally mounted on the free end of the inner tubular part.

:10. Apparatus for making a bed as set forth in claim 9, in which said telescoping side extensions are initially vertically disposed and pivotally mounted for adjustment to a horizontal position, each end of said side extensions mounting a pivotally mounted, slotted tucker rod for receiving a folded end of the sheet and disposing the sheet onto the mattress.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,343,183 9/1967 Sannes 5317 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner ANDREW M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

